Have you ever seen a TED Talk and thought to yourself, “I could do that”?  

There’s one organization in Denver where you just might be able to get on stage with your big idea. Ignite Denver hosts three events every year, bringing members of the community on stage to share important ideas in front of a live audience. The catch? You only have five minutes to convey your idea. Last month, Ignite hosted its twentieth event in Denver, and over the course of the last six years, it has given a platform to over 100 speakers in the Denver area.

The five-minute presentation is called a “spark,” and is accompanied by 20 PowerPoint slides that are projected onto a large screen for 15 seconds each. If you have an idea, you can sign up to give a spark on the Ignite Denver website. Ideas are voted on, and once chosen, the speakers are coached on how to present a compelling presentation by Daniel Stones, a volunteer with Ignite Denver.

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Last time we gave you some advice from the peak, we talked about networking—an important form to master when it comes to getting yourself out there and meeting people. Now we’re on to the next step.

You’ve got the network and you know the right people to talk to; now it’s time to pitch your business idea. It sounds a lot easier than it really is, but there is actually a lot that you need to consider when it comes to persuading investors to get on board with your big idea. Integrate these five tips into your pitch and you’ll be off to a great start:

1. Facts, fast.

First of all, ditch your 45-minute PowerPoint slideshow. It isn’t going to impress anyone and you can wow investors in a lot quicker and simpler ways than that. You know what everyone always says they prefer: short, sweet, and to the point. If you can’t sell your startup to potential investors quickly, you’re never going to sell it to consumers.

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Don’t hypothesize—that’s why I say facts, fast. Nothing inspires anyone more than the truth. Keep it real. You’re not doing yourself any favors by trying to sell something that you don’t actually have.

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